I am still here for all of the above. There are days I can't even visit but on most I manage a quick trawl between guests or - like today - whilst having a bite to eat whilst waiting for the other gardners to join me in digging holes for opperation cycad.

I have never even thought of leaving - I get too much from the forum even if it is just being forced to rationalise why I do not agree with something.

I do however leave threads (some that I can probably make a valuable addition to). I do this because I am not prepaired to get all hot under the coller just because someone is so emotional about a topic that their choice of words or adamant stance makes me feel uncomfortable. This is for my own sanity as this is my escape hatch form the pressures (I know jeep jocky's have no pressure -we are always on holiday) of my job.

Don't know if this makes me a bit of a coward out there in the electronic ether (but I have always been a fan of the cowerdly lion)

Well.... I have packed my bags before, decided: "This is it! I don't need this place!" The truth is that I never pack enough into that bag to last me anything longer than overnight. When I wake up the next morning it the same old, same old. Switch on the PC..... Switch on the kettle....... log onto the forum....... get my coffee. That is how all my days begin. Why? I ask myself. Because this is a place where I can learn so much about so many things, a place which wrecks my grey matter, sometimes tugging at my heartstrings and tickles my funny bone. A place where I've met and keep on meeting so many amazing people.

Will I ever leave on a more permanent basis? Well, something could happen to my PC and it will take me about 2 min to set up the laptop!

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

I returned the moment I realized the forum runs in Opera Mini from my new cellphone. Why? I missed having info about wildlife and reading about all the exciting things people write of in trip reports. I missed the chit-chat in the Good Morning thread. I could've stayed away permanently but made a choice not to. I've had my share of meets but that's a byproduct. I love SANParks Parks. Simple as that.

Great topic MM. Definately agree. I love getting lost in the forum, it is nice to be able to take a part of the place you love with you, that way it helps with the withdrawal syptoms whilst you are not there in person.Just last week I was on a train home from work- the train was crammed with sad looking people all in a rush, yet i was lost in this forum on my phone and because we share the parks and the forums I truly believe that we have great insight into real beauty and that makes us better people.

I asked myself this question after being taken out by PM and on the topic by a respected and loved member after he/she complained about too many people updating a list in one of the topics- I who were one of the people updating the list offered a sincere apology and got told that he/she does not get fooled. But in any case that lead me to this question.

Why are you on the forum?

For me one reason out of the many is I am passionate about conservation and would love to learn as much as possible! Like I said this list is long!

Are you on the forum just to see all the negative and respond only negatively? Or are you also here to appreciate and share your love for nature?

Ratpack Member.

The currents that shape our lives, flow from the attitudes we nurture everyday!